What to do?

[scottishpedro]

Hi all,

I am have a 2005 Nissan 350z with 42,000 on the clock. I have owned the car for 2 years and loved every minute of it. It is due it's service and MOT in 2 weeks, and it's getting to the stage where the car may start needing money spent on it.

I am getting married in a years time and need to start saving big time. I am half tempted to change the zed so I run into no nasty problems before then. I am test driving a 197 on Friday, and have been offered a very decent trade in for the z. In addition the dealer says they are knocking £500 off all their cars this week, which would give me a more or less straight swap.

http://renault.nessmotors.com/Used-...lue-manual-petrol-in-perth-ID_2241385911.aspx

http://renault.nessmotors.com/Used-...red-manual-petrol-in-perth-ID_2236085911.aspx

I have heard that the 197 is excellent to drive. I am not a car snob, and would not mind what I drove as long as it looked nice enough and drove well. I am well aware that everyone on here will give a very positive view of the 197, but I am after some advice. Will I be dissapointed going from the 350z to the clio? I like the zed because there is power at any revs, but I have read the clio flies at high revs.

Things I would like advice on:

Service cost?
Tax? £235?
Tyres - I pressume not run flats?
Ipod connectivity?
Room for golf clubs? (I presume seats down)
Is it possible to have a bluetooth phone kit installed aftermarket?
How much £ for chrome exhaust tips?
Any rear leg room?
Expected average clutch life/disc life/tyre life?
The Zed or the Clio??

Thanks in advance,

Pedro

 

[Bodge!]

ZED!

 

[domjolly]

197 is a great car will be much slower straight line than 350z but will be lots of fun on b road blasts! But I got to say for £12,995 could you not get a car more suitable? Audi, BMW,vauxhall astra Vxr would but as fast as you 350z and would fit golf clubs in, be a bit more suitable

 

[scottishpedro]

Re: What to do?
197 is a great car will be much slower straight line than 350z but will be lots of fun on b road blasts! But I got to say for £12,995 could you not get a car more suitable? Audi, BMW,vauxhall astra Vxr would but as fast as you 350z and would fit golf clubs in, be a bit more suitable

That's the problem. The zed is super exiting but it is almost impossible to get anything like it for anywhere near the cash. I probably would miss it but would regret not changing if I had to replace clutch/flywheel/discs/exhaust in the next year! Maybe i'm being pessimistic but these things tend to happen around 50k miles.

I would love an s3 but anything newer/less mileage would be 20k plus, no beemer I would want to be honest and same applies re price and I am ware the vxr is good to drive but too chavtastic for my taste.

 

[Mark R27]

The answers below are only based on my ownership so far.

Service cost? 12 month service was £150, 24 month service £235 not sure on prices for the others. (Both carried out by Renault dealers)

Tax £235? Yes

Run flat tyres - No not as standard

Ipod connectivity? Not as standard (unless I'm being thick and still haven't found it)

Room for golf clubs? (I presume seats down) Yes and that’s with the seats up.

Is it possible to have a bluetooth phone kit installed aftermarket? I presume so.

How much £ for chrome exhaust tips? £65 from Renault http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/roadcars/clioaccessories/ (although could possibly be found cheaper on ebay)

Any rear leg room? I'm well over 6ft and can fit in the back of mine.

Expected average clutch life/disc life/tyre life? Not sure as I haven't had the car long enough to find out but will depend on how you use it.

The Zed or the Clio?? If you could live without the power then the Clio wouldn't disappoint. However if you love the 350z then I wouldn't sell it out of fear of it going wrong as you've got to remember you'd be buying French so would be chancing it anyway